Review the list of stories to identify which one youâd like to write about:
· âRoyal Beatingsâ by Alice Munro
· âThe Yellow Wallpaperâ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
· âSonnyâs Bluesâ by James Baldwin
· âRules of the Gameâ by Amy Tan
· âPaulâs Caseâ by Willa Cather
· âDeath by Landscapeâ by Margaret Atwood
· âTo Room Nineteenâ by Doris Lessing
Assignment 2 contributes 15% toward your final grade for the course. Submit your paper as soon as conveniently possible. Although youâre not required to follow the suggested schedule in the Course Guide, itâs a good idea to complete Assignment 2 by the end of Module 4 or roughly at the end of week 5 of the course.
You arenât required to do any research for this essay.
Critical Essay Topics
Choose just one of the following topics:
- To what extent is the protagonist of the story youâve chosen responsible for the conflict or predicament he or she faces?
- How does the antagonist in the story youâve chosen contribute to the storyâs overall meaning?
- To what extent is the protagonist conditioned by his or her physical and social environments?
- Which is more important in the story you choose: the physical environment or the social environment?
In your introductory paragraph:
· Provide the complete title of the story youâve chosen and the authorâs complete name.
· Identify clearly your essay topic.
· Include a strong thesis statement on your topic.
· Forecast the main stages of your essay.
In your analysis in the body of your essay:
· Make effective use of topic sentences to identify the main ideas of your analysis.
· Support your comments with evidence (paraphrase and direct quotations) from your chosen story.
· Explain the significance of each piece of evidence you present.
· Contribute to the readerâs understanding of the story as a whole.